Harris Surges Ahead of Trump in Youth Poll

Vice President Harris may be the answer to the Democratic Party's youth problem. A new poll from the Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics reveals a significant shift in young voters' preferences, with Harris holding a commanding lead over former President Donald Trump among likely voters ages 18 to 29.

The poll, released Tuesday, shows Harris ahead of Trump by a whopping 31 points, with 61% of young voters favoring Harris compared to just 30% for Trump. This represents a dramatic improvement for Democrats since Harvard's spring youth poll, which found President Biden ahead of Trump by a much smaller margin. The shift in sentiment among young Americans, who often hold the key in swing states, could be a major boon for Harris's presidential campaign.

Political strategists point to a surge in voter registrations following Biden's withdrawal from the race, with young Americans, particularly women and women of color, leading the charge. While it's unclear who these individuals will ultimately vote for, their increased engagement suggests a potential shift in the electorate, particularly among demographics that tend to favor Democratic candidates.

The latest Harvard youth poll reflects this trend, showing a significant increase in support for Harris among young women. In the spring poll, young female likely voters favored Biden over Trump by 22 points, but in this latest survey, their support for Harris is even more pronounced, with a margin of 47 points. Harris has also seen an increase in support among young men, though at a slower pace.

In addition to her growing popularity, the poll also reveals a heightened level of enthusiasm among young Democrats. The percentage of young Democrats who say they will definitely vote this fall has increased from 66% in the spring to 74% in this latest survey. This surge in voter turnout could further solidify Harris's lead among young voters and potentially give her a decisive advantage in the 2024 election.